Marking apparatus including marking pen and ink-dispensing receptacle



Nov. 25, 1969 J. 'H. LEE I 3,480,371

- MARKING APPARATUS INCLUDING MARKING PEN AND INK-DISPENSING RECEPTACLE2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 7, 1968 INVENTOR JAMES H. LEE.

M9 ATTORNEYS Nov. 25 1969 J. H. LEE

MARKING APPARATUS INCLUDING MARK ING PEN AND INK-DISPENSING RECEPTACLE 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 7, 1968 \NVENTOE James H LEE.

.- QTTORNEK United. States Patent 3,480,371 MARKING APPARATUS INCLUDINGMARKING PEN AND INK-DISPENSING RECEPTACLE James H. Lee, Walnut Creek,Calif., assignor to Dymo Industries, Inc., Emeryville, Califi, acorporation of California Filed May 7, 1968, Ser. No. 727,248 Int. Cl.B43k 13/00; A46b 17/08 U.S. Cl. 401-121 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE Marking apparatus including a marking pen and aninkdispensing receptacle having an opening for receiving the body of thepen and wherein both the body of the pen and the opening in thereceptacle are provided with at least partially complementary ribbedconfigurations so that any ink which may be wiped from the writing tipof the pen onto the periphery of the opening in the receptacle byinsertion or withdrawal of the pen into or out of the receptacle willlie on the crests of the ribs of the opening and will be excluded fromthe crests of the ribs of the pen body thereby providing an ink-free,finger-grip portion on the body of the pen.

The present invention pertains generally to marking systems employingmarking pens and ink-dispensing receptacles and pertains, morespecifically, to apparatus including particular pen and receptacleconstructions which will provide an ink-free gripping area on the bodyof the pen.

Marking pens are commonly employed for making bold lines on a variety ofmaterials such as, for example, in the marking of prices upon items ofmerchandise, and in the fabrication of signs and labels. Ordinarily,these pens employ writing tips constructed of a soft, porous materialsuch as felt and do not carry a self-contained ink supply. Hence, suchpens must be externally linked and are usually utilized in connectionwith an ink-dispensing receptacle. Very often, when a marking pen isinserted into its corresponding receptacle or withdrawn from thereceptacle, the writing tip will brush against the rim of the opening inthe receptacle, thereby wiping ink onto the rim. This ink is thenusually transferred to the body of the pen Where the pen is gripped, byvirtue of contact between the pen and the inked rim of the receptacle,so that the user of the pen is plagued by ink on the tips of hisfingers.

It is therefore an important object of the invention to provide inkmarking apparatus employing a marking pen and an ink-dispensingreceptacle, each having a construction which will exclude ink from thefinger-grip portion of the pen body.

Another object of the invention is to provide a marking pen and anink-dispensing receptacle which cooperate in such a manner as to excludeink from those portions of the body of the pen which will be grippedduring use.

Still another. object of the invention is to provide a marking penhaving a construction which cooperatively engages a correspondingconstruction in an ink-dispensing receptacle to effectively seal thereceptacle.

A further object of the invention is to provide an ink marking systemwherein the marking pen and the inkdispensing receptacle each have asimplified, economically fabricated construction.

The above objects, as well as further objects and advantages, areattained by the invention which may be described briefly as markingapparatus including the combination of a marking pen having a body witha fingergrip portion and a writing tip, and an ink-dispensing re-3,480,371 Patented Nov. 25, 1969 7 ice ceptacle having an ink supply andan opening for receiving at least a portion of the body of the penincluding the writing tip thereof. A plurality of first ribs are spacedperipherally along the finger-grip of the body of the pen, each firstrib having a crest and extending longitudinally along the body,projecting outwardly and being peripherally spaced from an adjacentfirst rib such that the first ribs define a first configurationincluding a plurality of inwardly directed first grooves between thefirst ribs so that the pen body may be gripped at the fingergrip portionalong the crests of the first ribs. A plurality of second ribs arespaced peripherally along the perimeter of the opening in thereceptacle, the second ribs each having a crest and extendinglongitudinally, projecting inwardly and being peripherally spaced froman adjacent second rib such that the second ribs define a secondconfiguration which is at least partially complementary with the firstconfiguration and includes a plurality of outwardly directed secondgrooves between the second ribs. The finger-grip portion of the pen bodymay be received within the opening of the receptacle to bring thewriting tip into contact with the ink supply, with the first and secondconfigurations engaged such that the first ribs project into the secondgrooves and the second ribs project into the first grooves and any inkwiped from the writing tip onto the periphery of the opening byinsertion or withdrawal of the pen into or out of the receptacle willlie on the crests of the second ribs and will be excluded from thecrests of the first ribs.

The invention will be more fully understood and further objects andadvantages will become apparent in the following detailed description ofpreferred embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of marking apparatus constructed inaccordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the marking apparatus of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 33 of FIGURE 2 withthe marking pens thereof shown in elevation;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view illustrating theconfiguration of interengaga'ble portions of a pen and a receptacle ofFIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partially sectioned, ofportions of the apparatus of FIGURE 3 with the component parts inanother position;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of another marking apparatus illustratinganother embodiment of the invention; and

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 77 of FIGURE 6.

Referring now to the drawing, and especially to FIG- URES l and 2, amarking apparatus 10 is shown to include two marking pens 12 and 14received within an inkdispensing receptacle 16 having an ink-retainingvessel 18 including a cap 20. The pens 12 and 14 are of two differentsizes and, as best seen in FIGURE 2, the cap 20 is provided with twoopenings 22 and 24, one for each pen, each opening having a sizecorresponding to the size of the pen received therein.

Since the pens 12 and 14 are of identical construction and differ onlyin size, only pen 12 will be described in detail in connection withFIGURES 3, 4 and 5. Pen 12 is seen to have a body 30 which includes anelongate stem 32 and a finger-grip portion illustrated in the form of acollar 34. Projecting longitudinally below the collar 34 is a writingtip 36 which is actually a wedge-shaped extension of an elongate body 38of a resilient, porous material such as felt which is encased within thestern of the pen.

As best seen in FIGURE 2, as well as in FIGURES 3 through 5, the collar34 is provided with a plurality of ribs extending longitudinally alongthe collar and circumferentially spaced from one another around theperiphery of the collar. Each rib 40 projects radially outwardly to acrest 42 at the outer extremity thereof and adjacent ribs 40 arecircumferentially spaced from one another such that the ribs define aconfiguration 44 including a plurality of inwardly directed grooves 46between the ribs 40, the grooves 46 each having a bottom 48. Theconfiguration 44 may be characterized as a splined configuration, eachof the ribs 40 corresponding to a spline. The circumferential spacing ofthe ribs 40, the circumferential width of each of the ribs 40 whichestablishes a land at each crest 42, and the depth of the grooves 46 aresuch that the pen 12 may be gripped along the lands at the crests of theribs in such a manner that the fingers which grip the collar 34 will notcontact the bottoms 48 of the grooves 46.

The opening 22 in the cap 20 of the receptacle 16 is also provided witha plurality of ribs 50 spaced circumferentially along the perimeter ofthe opening, the ribs 50 each having a crest 52 and extendinglongitudinally along an integral sleeve-like portion 53 of the cap 20.The ribs 50 are spaced circumferentially from one another and projectradially inwardly to establish a configuration 54 which is at leastpartially complementary to the splined configuration 44 of the collar 34of the pen 12 and includes a plurality of radially outwardly directedgrooves 56 lying between the ribs 50 and each having a bottom 58.

When the apparatus is at rest, as shown in FIGURES 1 through 3, thecollar 34 of the pen 12 is received within the opening 22 in thereceptacle 16- and the writing tip 36 lies against an ink supply shownin the form of an ink-impregnated felt pad 60 located within the vessel18 of the receptacle. In this position, the receptacle is closed by theengagement of the configurations 44 and 54 of the collar 34 and theopening 22, respectively, and ink is supplied to the writing tip 36 fromthe ink supply.

When it is desired to use the pen, the body 30 of the pen is withdrawnfrom the opening 22 in the receptacle 16, as seen in FIGURE 5, and thecollar 34 is gripped by the writers fingers along the lands provided bycrests 42 of ribs 40. Should either the insertion of the pen into theopening or the withdrawal of the pen from the opening result in thebrushing of the writing tip 36 against the periphery of the opening 22,such brushing of the writing tip against the opening would wipe ink ontothe crests 52 of the ribs 50 of the opening 22, as seen at 62 in FIG-URE 4, and would leave the grooves 56 free of ink. Thus, upon insertionof the pen into the opening, any ink wiped onto the periphery of theopening would not come into contact with the crests 42 of the ribs 40 onthe collar 34 of the pen, even though some ink might be transferred tothe bottoms 48 of the grooves 46 as seen at 64 in FIGURE 4, and ink iseffectively excluded from that portion of the pen which is gripped bythe writers fingers.

Turning now to FIGURES 6 and 7, another embodiment of the invention isshown in the form of a marking apparatus which includes a marking pen112 and an ink-dispensing receptacle 116 including a vessel 118 whichhas a cap 120 provided with an opening 122 therein for receiving thepen. The marking pen 112 is designed for drawing wide lines and isprovided with a body including an elongate stem 132 and a finger-gripportion shown in the form of a generally parallelepipedal sleeve 133having a first pair of opposed faces 134 which are to be gripped by thefingers of a writer using the pen and a second pair of opposed faces135, and below which projects a rectangular writing tip 136 which is theextremity of a rectangular block 138 of resilient, porous material suchas felt received within the sleeve 133. The opposed faces 134 areparallel and are each provided with a plurality of longitudinallyextending ribs 140 spaced laterally from one another. Each rib 140projects outwardly to a crest 142 and is spaced from an adjacent rib 140such .4 that the ribs define a configuration 144 including a pluralityof inwardly directed grooves 146 between the ribs 140, the grooves 146each having a bottom 148. The ribs 140 have sufiicient width to providelands at the crests 142 thereof, which lands will provide the areanecessary for gripping.

The opening 122 in the cap 120 is also generally parallelepipedal andincludes first opposed faces 150 and second opposed faces 151. Theopposed faces 150 are each provided with a plurality of ribs 152extending longitudinally along the sleeve-like portion 153 which definesthe perimeter of the opening 122 in the receptacle. Each rib 152projects inwardly to a crest 154 and is laterally spaced from anadjacent rib 152 such that the ribs define a configuration 155 which isfully complementary with the ribbed configuration 144 of the body of thepen and which includes a plurality of outwardly directed grooves 156lying between the ribs 152 and each having a bottom 158.

Because the configurations 144 and 155 are fully complementary, the pen112 may be inserted within the receptacle 120 to a position where theopening is not only closed, but is effectively sealed 'by the engagementof the fully complementary configurations of the body of the pen and theopening in the receptacle. In this position, the writing tip 136 willreceive ink from an ink supply shown in the form of an ink-impregnatedpad 160 lying within the vessel 118 of the receptacle 116.

Upon removal of the pen 112 from the opening 122, or insertion of thepen into the opening, any ink wiped from the Writing tip 136 onto theportion of the periphery of the opening which corresponds to thefinger-grip portion of the body of the pen will lie on the crests 154 ofthe ribs 152 of the opening 122 and will be excluded from the crests 142of the ribs 140 of the body 130 of the pen 112. Since the opposed faces135 of the sleeve 133 are not intended to be gripped, these faces andcorresponding opposed faces 151 of the opening need not be provided witha ribbed configuration.

Thus, it will be seen that the above described construction provides asimplified means for attaining cleanliness in a marking apparatus.Additionally, the construction provides an effective means for closingand sealing the ink-dispensing receptacle and which permits rapidremoval of the pen from the receptacle and easy reinsertion of the peninto the receptacle.

It is to be understood that the above detailed description of thepreferred embodiments of the invention is provided by way of exampleonly. Various details of design and construction may be modified withoutdeparting from the true spirit and scope of the invention as set forthin the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In a marking apparatus including the combination of a marking penhaving a body with a finger-grip portion and a writing tip, and anink-dispensing receptacle having an ink supply and an opening forreceiving at least a portion of the body of the pen including thewriting tip thereof:

a plurality of first ribs spaced peripherally along the finger-gripportion of the body of the pen, each first rib having a crest andextending longitudinally along the body, projecting outwardly and beingperipherally spaced from an adjacent first rib such that the first ribsdefine a first configuration including a plurality of inwardly directedfirst grooves between the first ribs so that the body may be gripped atthe finger-grip portion along the crests of the first ribs; and

a plurality of second ribs spaced peripherally along the perimeter ofthe opening in the receptacle, each second rib having a crest andextending longitudinally, projecting inwardly and being peripherallyspaced from an adjacent second rib such that the second ribs define asecond configuration at least partially complementary with the firstconfiguration and including a plurality of outwardly directed secondgrooves between the second ribs so that the fingergrip portion of thepen body may be received within the opening of the receptacle to bringthe writing tip into contact with the ink supply with the first andsecond configurations engaged such that the first ribs project into thesecond grooves and the second ribs project into the first grooves andany ink wiped from the writing tip onto the periphery of the opening byinsertion or withdrawal of the pen into or out of the receptacle willlie on the crests of the second ribs and will be excluded from thecrests of the first ribs.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the first and second configurationare fully complementary such that all of the first grooves are fullyengaged by second ribs and all of the second grooves are fully engagedby first ribs and the opening is sealed by the pen body when the pen isinserted into the opening.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein:

the finger-grip portion and the opening are generally cylindrical;

the first ribs and the first grooves are spaced circumferentially aroundthe perimeter of the finger-grip portion of the pen body; and

the second ribs and the second grooves are spaced circumferentiallyaround the perimeter of the openmg. 4. The invention of claim 1 wherein:the finger-grip portion and the opening are generally parallelepipedaland include pairs of opposed faces;

the first ribs and the first grooves are spaced laterally along at leastone pair of opposed faces of the finger-grip portion of the pen body;and

the second ribs and the second grooves are spaced laterally along acorresponding pair of opposed faces of the opening.

5. A marking pen for use in a marking apparatus which includes anink-dispensing receptacle having an ink supply and an opening forreceiving at least a portion of the pen, the receptacle including aplurality of ribs spaced peripherally along the perimeter of the openingin the receptacle, each rib having a crest and extending longitudinally,projecting inwardly and being peripherally spaced from an adjacent ribsuch that the ribs define a configuration including a plurality ofoutwardly directed r grooves between the ribs, said marking pencomprising:

a body having a finger-grip portion and including a writing tip;

a plurality of further ribs spaced peripherally along the finger-gripportion of the body of the pen, each further rib having a crest andextending longitudinally along the body, projecting outwardly and beingperipherally spaced from an adjacent further rib such that the furtherribs define a further configuration including a plurality of inwardlydirected further grooves between the further ribs, and the pen body maybe gripped at the finger-grip portion along the crests of the furtherribs;

the finger-grip portion of the pen body being receivable within theopening of the receptacle to bring the writing tip into contact with theink supply with the configurations of the pen body portion and theopening engageable such that the ribs of the pen body will project intothe grooves of the receptacle and the ribs of the receptacle willproject into the grooves of the pen body and any ink wiped from thewriting tip onto the periphery of the opening by insertion or withdrawalof the pen into or out of the receptacle will lie on the crests of thegrooves of the receptacle and will be excluded from the crests of theribs of the pen body.

6. The marking pen of claim 5 wherein:

the finger-grip portion is generally cylindrical; and

the ribs of the pen body and the grooves of the pen body are spacedcircumferentially around the perimeter of the finger-grip portion of thepen body.

7. The marking pen of claim 5 wherein:

the finger-grip portion of the pen body is generally parallelepipedaland includes pairs of opposed faces; and

the ribs of the pen body and the grooves of the pen body are spacedlaterally along at least one pair of opposed faces of the finger-gripportion of the pen body.

8. An ink-dispensing receptacle for use in a marking apparatus whichincludes a marking pen having a body with a finger-grip portion, awriting tip and a plurality of ribs spaced peripherally along thefinger-grip portion of the body of the pen, each rib having a crest andextending longitudinally along the body, projecting outwardly and beingperipherally spaced from an adjacent rib such that the ribs define aconfiguration including a plurality of inwardly directed grooves betweenthe ribs and the pen body may be gripped at the finger-grip portionalong the crests of the ribs, said receptacle comprising:

a vessel for containing an ink supply and having an opening therein forreceiving at least a portion of the body of the pen including thewriting tip thereof; and

a plurality of further ribs spaced peripherally along the perimeter ofthe opening in the receptacle, each further rib having a crest andextending longitudinally, projecting inwardly and being peripherallyspaced from an adjacent further rib such that the further ribs define afurther configuration at least partially complementary with theconfiguration of the pen body portion and including a plurality ofoutwardly directed further grooves between the further ribs and thefinger-grip portion of the pen body may be received within the openingof the receptacle to bring the writing tip into contact with the inksupply with the configuration of the finger-grip portion of the pen bodyengaging the further configuration of the opening such that the ribs ofthe finger-grip portion of the pen body project into the grooves of theopening and the ribs of the opening project into the grooves of thefinger-grip portion of the pen body and any ink wiped from the writingtip onto the periphery of the opening by insertion or withdrawal of thepen into or out of the receptacle will lie on the crests of the ribs ofthe opening and will be excluded from the crests of the ribs offinger-grip portion of the pen body.

9. The ink-dispensing receptacle of claim 8 wherein:

the opening in the vessel is generally cylindrical; and

the ribs of the opening and the grooves of the opening are spacedcircumferentially around the perimeter of the opening.

10. The ink-dispensing receptacle of claim 8 wherein:

the opening in the vessel is generally parallelepipedal and includespairs of opposite faces; and

the ribs of the opening and the grooves of the opening are spacedlaterally along at least one pair of the opposed faces of the opening.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,983,946 5/1961 Edelstone et al401-121 LAWRENCE CHARLES, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 401-118, 122

@333 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,480 ,371 Dated November 25, 1969 Inventor(s) JAMES H. LEE

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent andthat said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

C olumn 2 line 4 between "finger-grip" and "of" insert portion Column 5,line 18, "configuration" should read configurations Signed and sealedthis 7th day of July 1970 (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M. FLETCHER,JR. Attesting Officer WILLIAM E SCHUYLER, JR.Commissioner of Patents

